Prodigal Daughter
Copyright© 2025 by DB86
Chapter 27
Marshall drove too fast. He couldn’t stop himself. He wanted to get home to his son and Elise.
He wanted to hear the truth, awful or not. Especially then since he had great news to share. The lawyer had called him. The paperwork had finally finished. He was officially Justin’s father. He had also bought a ring to make his proposal official.
He turned into the driveway at forty-five miles and spotted the sheriff’s patrol car and an ambulance in front of his house. Going slow was no longer an option. A patrol car could only mean trouble, and he didn’t want to even think what that could mean.
He wasn’t even sure how he got from the end of the drive to the house, but suddenly he was there, wrenching the door open, his heart in his throat.
“What’s going on?”
His grandfather was standing in the living room, talking to the deputy.
Maggie Olson was holding her father, her eyes red and puffy.
Justin and Elise were on the couch, arms wrapped around each other. His grandmother was sitting with them, patting Elise’s back. She had a bandage on her cheek.
Marshall skirted around the table and went down on one knee, grateful they all seemed to be okay; puzzled as to what was going on. He took Justin against his chest when he turned and reached for him, his thin arms held out wide. He’d never really asked for a hug before. He put his hand on Justin’s back and stroked him.
“What happened?” he asked, looking up at the sheriff.
“Relax, Marshall,” the sheriff said. “Nobody is hurt.”
“Memo was here,” Justin said in a low, frightened voice. “But we’re okay. Elise protected Maggie and me.”
“Your girlfriend is a hero,” Bonnie said, beaming with pride. “Tough as a Tucker, after all.”
Marshall stood up, Justin in his arms, making low shushing noises to him. Anger settled over him, cold and furious.
“Who the fuck is Memo?” he blurted out.
“Marshall, language,” Elise warned him.
“Mom’s boyfriend. He is a mean man. He wanted to take me with him, but Elise didn’t let him,” Justin explained.
Marshall looked at Elise’s cheek. “He hit you?” he asked in outrage.
Elise shook her head. “He cut me with his knife.”
“Are you okay?”
Elise nodded. “The blade didn’t go too deep, thank God, it didn’t need stitches.”
Marshall wanted to say exactly what he thought of a motherfucker who would attack a woman, and in front of a child, no less, but he couldn’t while holding Justin.
Turning to the sheriff, he asked, “Did you arrest the motherfucker?”
“Oh yeah! Oregon police were looking for him. Apparently, he murdered your ex-wife because she stole money from him. The money was hidden in the kid’s stuffed animal,” Sheriff Thomas explained. “The DEA was looking for him, too. He is going to jail for a long, long, long time.”
“Good,” Marshall’s blood was boiling by then. “He is lucky I wasn’t here.”
Justin’s shoulders started to shake, and Marshall realized with horror that his son was crying. In all this time, he had never cried. Not once.
He was sobbing, his cheeks streaming with tears, his anguished breathing ripping his heart out of his chest.
“It’s okay, Justin, it’s okay. He’s gone now, and we never let him hurt you. Daddy is here.”
Justin sniffed and nodded.
“You’re never leaving me, understand? Never. You’re my son. Forever. No one can take you away from me. You belong here with me and Grandma and Grandpa...”
“And me!” Elise chimed in, her shorts rumpled, and her hair tangled. “I’m part of this family, too ... if you’ll have me.”
“You tell him, girl,” Bonnie encouraged Elise.
Marshall shifted Justin’s weight, lifting him higher, and stared at Elise.
This was real. Elise was saying she wanted to marry him.
Marshall turned and locked eyes with the sheriff. “Can we wrap this up?”
Justin’s crying had slowed, and he was giving dry, shuddery sighs, wiping his face on his T-shirt.
The sheriff nodded. “I think we have everything we need,” he said, but didn’t move wanting to witness what was coming next.
“All this mess today aside, I’ve got some really great news,” Marshall announced.
“What’s that?” Elise asked. She could use some good news.
“My lawyer called. I’m officially Justin’s father.”
Elise came close to Marshall and kissed his lips. Her eyes were shining with tears. “That’s awesome news, Marshall”
“What are you talking about?” Justin asked, peeling himself off Marshall’s chest and leaning back to look at him.
Marshall kissed his son’s forehead. “Remember when they swabbed our cheeks?”
Justin nodded. “Well, the results said you’re definitely my son. It also means no one can take you away from me.”
Justin didn’t say anything, just rested his head back on his father’s shoulder.
“Really, Dad?” he said.
“Really. Together forever, buddy.”
The boy hugged Marshall’s neck tight.
“Now, I want to ask something very important to Elise. Will you help me?”
Justin nodded very serious-like.
Marshall studied the bandage on her cheek, his lips tight and white. “Are you really okay? I’m so sorry he hurt you.”
The feather-light touch of his finger across her cheek, made her shiver.
“Yes, I’m fine. But did you hear me, Marshall, when I said I wanted to stay?”
“I heard you.”
“I love you. I love Justin, and I love my life here. I don’t need fancy clothes or jewelry or anything. Just let me be part of your life,” she pleaded.
Before she could say anything else, Marshall dropped to one knee, took a box out of his pocket and gave it to Justin.
“Open it, and show it to Elise, son.”
Justin did as he was told, and Elise gasped when she saw the ring.
“I can’t give you the world, Elise Olson, but Justin and I are offering you our hearts. Will you marry us?”